LIFE IN THE END ZONE: A discussion of topical issues for anyone concerned with the final phase of life by Muriel R. Gillick, MD

July 12, 2015

Get Old? Who, Me?

Yes, Virginia, there will be
a White House Conference on Aging (WHCOA) this year—this July 13. Well, sort of.
Congress never re-authorized the Older Americans Act, which provides the
statutory framework for the conference. That means no financing and no legislative
backing. So just as he’s done with immigration reform, raising the minimum
wage, and new automotive fuel standards, President Obama is going it alone. He’s
using his limited discretionary funds to host a one-day event at the White
House. No delegates traveling from around the country, no opportunity for
networking, and probably no major new initiatives. Just a handful of invited
speakers and a few webinars with interested individuals calling in from their
“watch party” to ask questions.

It’s innovative, capitalizing on technology, social
media, and the internet. It’s efficient—no air travel or hotel reservations
necessary. It will shine a light on four important areas: healthy aging, long
term supports and services, elder justice, and retirement security. The
Gerontologist published papers on each of these areas in a special April issue. These papers will serve as
the major input, and probably also the output, of the conference. They are
thoughtful, articulate articles that collectively offer a vision for geriatric
health policy.

It would be small-minded to be critical of what’s not on
the WHCOA agenda, given the limited resources available for the conference.
Dementia, the single greatest threat to quality of life in advanced age and one
of the chief drivers of expensive medical care, didn’t make the cut—but then
again the White House already announced the BRAIN initiative (Brain Research
through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies), an ambitious public/private
cooperative enterprise intended to treat, support, and perhaps one day cure,
Alzheimer’s disease. Technology in old age—from assistive devices to smart
houses to robots—isn’t on the docket. But the very existence of the conference
is an impressive accomplishment. It shows ingenuity, imagination, and
determination in light of the congressional just-say-no attitude.

Rather than regretting what the WHCOA is not, we should
celebrate what it is. It is a testimonial to the recognition that aging is
important, that old people matter, and that the US has a responsibility to
promote a society to conducive to leading a fulfilling, meaningful life for all
our citizens. Congress deserves public castigation for its failure to
re-authorize the Older Americans Act which, in addition to providing support
for WHCOA also subsidizes home delivered meals, adult day care, congregate
meals and caregiver support programs. The average age of the members of the House of Representatives in the 114th Congress is 57. The average
age of members of the Senate is 61—which means that before their term expires, many will have reached the age of Medicare eligibility. Dissing aging
reveals yet another truth about our do-nothing Congress. It is engaged in a massive denial of aging.